Police: Drug lab found after man fires weapon

By Holly Hollman
hhollman@decaturdaily.com · 340-2445

ATHENS — A man who said he accidentally shot an assault weapon outside could not claim he accidentally had a marijuana lab operating in his house, an Athens police investigator said.

The investigator, Lt. Floyd Johnson, said dispatch received a call at 5:15 p.m. on Monday that someone had fired shots at 1502 Grace Ave.

Officers responded and tried to call the occupant on his home phone. Johnson identified the occupant as 29-year-old Heath Corey Ohler.

"We think there was a problem with the phone line, which is why we couldn't contact him that way," Johnson said.

For public safety, officers sealed off the neighborhood, Johnson said. The neighborhood remained sealed for 45 minutes to an hour, he said.

"Officers finally got him to come to the door, and he came out with his hands up and gave up without incident," Johnson said.

Johnson said Ohler had fired an AR-15 assault rifle.

"He claimed he fired at the ground, and that it was accidental," Johnson said. "I don't know why he had the gun in the first place."

After Ohler allegedly fired the shots, he walked back inside the home, Johnson said. No one else was at the home. Ohler lives there with his mother, Johnson said, but she was not home.

Lt. Trevor Harris, Lt. Steve Moore, Sgt. Brett Constable and officer Wesley Jarrett then searched the house. Johnson said they discovered a marijuana lab in the north bedroom and called drug officers. Johnson said he and drug investigator Johnny Morell obtained a search warrant and disassembled the lab.

Johnson said there were no plants growing, but there was marijuana residue.

"It was an elaborate lab," Johnson said.

The lieutenant said the lab had heat lamps, a ventilation system, ozone unit, humidifiers, carbon dioxide production machine and watering system.

Johnson said 150 cups were set up that would have grown 150 plants.

Police charged Ohler with manufacturing marijuana, first-degree possession of marijuana, discharging a firearm in the city and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ohler was in Limestone County Jail on Tuesday on $36,000 bond.

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